Crime and Policing Act 2026

Prospective

130 Stalking protection orders: Northern Ireland N.I.

(1) The Protection from Stalking Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 (c. 17 (N.I.)) is amended as follows.

(2) In section 6 (meaning of act associated with stalking and risk associated with stalking), in subsection (1) for “7” substitute “6A”.

(3) After section 6 insert—

“6A. Meaning of “stalking protection order”

(1) In this Act “stalking protection order” means an order under this Act which, for the purpose of preventing a person from carrying out acts associated with stalking—

(a) prohibits the person from doing anything described in the order, or

(b) requires the person to do anything described in the order.

(2) This Act provides for the making of a stalking protection order—

(a) on an application under section 7, or

(b) where a person is acquitted of an offence, successfully appeals against a conviction for an offence, is dealt with in respect of certain findings or is convicted of an offence (see section 8(1)).”

(4) In section 7 (applications for orders) omit subsection (1).

(5) In section 8 (power to make orders)—

(a) for subsection (1) substitute—

“(1) This section applies in respect of a person (“D”) where—

(a) the Chief Constable has applied under section 7 to a court of summary jurisdiction for a stalking protection order against D,

(b) D is acquitted of an offence by or before a court,

(c) a court allows D’s appeal against a conviction for an offence,

(d) a court deals with D in respect of a finding that—

(i) D is not guilty of an offence by reason of insanity, or

(ii) D is under a disability and has done the act charged against D in respect of an offence, or

(e) D has been convicted of an offence and a court deals with D for the offence.”;

(b) in subsection (2), in the words before paragraph (a)—

(i) for “the order” substitute “a stalking protection order”;

(ii) after “satisfied” insert “on the balance of probabilities”;

(c) in subsection (3), after “satisfied” insert “on the balance of probabilities”.

(6) In section 10 (variations, renewals and discharges)—

(a) in subsection (1), for “a court of summary jurisdiction” substitute “an appropriate court”;

(b) in subsection (3)(a), after “satisfied” insert “on the balance of probabilities”;

(c) after subsection (3) insert—

“(4) In subsection (1) “appropriate court” means—

(a) where the stalking protection order was made by a court of summary jurisdiction other than a youth court, a court of summary jurisdiction which is not a youth court;

(b) where the stalking protection order was made by a youth court—

(i) if the defendant is under the age of 18 when the application for variation, renewal or discharge is made, a youth court;

(ii) if the defendant is aged 18 or over at the time the application for variation, renewal or discharge is made, a court of summary jurisdiction which is not a youth court;

(c) where the stalking protection order was made by any other court, the Crown Court.

(5) For the purposes of subsection (4)—

(a) a stalking protection order made by a court on an appeal is to be treated as made by the court whose decision was appealed against;

(b) a stalking protection order that is confirmed, varied or renewed on an appeal remains an order of the court that first made it (or, if it was made on an appeal, the court that is treated as having made it under paragraph (a)).”

(7) In section 11 (interim stalking protection orders), in subsection (2), after “application” in the first place it occurs insert “under section 7”.

(8) In section 12 (procedure)—

(a) after subsection (3) insert—

“(3A) An application to the Crown Court under section 10 is to be made in accordance with Crown Court rules.”;

(b) in subsection (5) omit “10 or”.

(9) After section 12 insert—

“12A. Appeals

(1) Where a stalking protection order is made in the circumstances mentioned in section 8(1)(b), (c) or (d), D may appeal against the making of the order as if—

(a) D had been convicted of the offence and,

(b) the order were a sentence passed on D for the offence by the court which made the order,

(if an appeal would lie against such a sentence).

(2) Where a stalking protection order is made in the circumstances mentioned in section 8(1)(e), D may appeal against the making of the order as if the order were a sentence passed on D for the offence by the court which made the order (if an appeal would lie against such a sentence).

(3) The following may appeal against a decision under section 10 made by the Crown Court—

(a) the person against whom the stalking protection order in question was made;

(b) the Chief Constable.

(4) An appeal under subsection (3) is to be made to the Court of Appeal, and may be made only with the permission of that court.

(5) On an appeal under this section, the court may make—

(a) such orders as may be necessary to give effect to its determination of the appeal, and

(b) such incidental or consequential orders as appear to it to be appropriate.

(6) For appeals against decisions of a court of summary jurisdiction on an application under section 7, 10 or 11, see Article 143 of the Magistrates’ Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (S.I. 1981/1675 (N.I. 26)) (appeal to county court against proceedings on complaint).”

(10) In section 21 (interpretation)—

(a) in the definition of “stalking protection order”, for “section 7(1)” substitute “section 6A(1)”;

(b) at the end insert—

• ““youth court” has the meaning given by section 12.”

(11) In section 20(3) (report on the operation of Act)—

(a) in paragraph (b) omit “and the number of orders made under section 8”;

(b) after paragraph (b) insert—

“(ba) the number of stalking protection orders made under each paragraph of section 8(1);”.

Commencement Information

I1 S. 130 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 255(8)(j)